Back Stage

SASA MAJUMA | Friday August 20, 2010 00:00

Shrek the Third (2006) a.k.a A Fright-3 (Mmegi, 13 January 2007) was really not a concern for DreamWorks as it grossed over P2 billion.  In Shrek-2 our hero and Fiona learnt the hard way that they were better off being ogres.  This insight came to them after they tried to pass as human beings, something that made them aware of all its drawbacks.  Shrek-1 (2001) started what has been a winning streak over the past decade.  Based loosely on William Steig's children's book (and Brothers Grimm's fairy tales) the film surprised everyone with its resounding success (Mmegi, 2 July 2004).

The four Shrek movies have also showed amazing continuity in the actors who voice the strange creatures from fairyland and ogre world.  The great green ogre, Shrek (voiced throughout by Mike Myers) has become a friend to many.  Children have no need to fear or have nightmares over ghosts or ogres if they become their friends.

Fiona, the princess ogre (spoken throughout by Cameron Diaz), has become Shrek's wife. She left Far Far Away Land (a satire on Beverley Hills and Hollywood) to live in the swamps with her husband.  Fiona's parents, the Queen and King Harold (voices throughout by Julie Andrews and John Cleese), have always been a bit overwhelmed and bewildered by the changes in their daughter, but what parents aren't?  Two of the most marvellous characters in the Shrek series have also maintained a degree of continuity.  They are the wonderful singing Donkey (given life by Eddie Murphy) and Puss-in-Boots (the fantastic voice of Antonio Banderas) who arrived first in Shrek-2. In Shrek-4, as a Johnny-come-lately, he steals the show yet again.

The plot of Shrek-4 is very simple. Shrek is entering a plateau in marriage, what with domesticity, fatherhood, and the constant invasion of his privacy by the Star Tours Chariot, he is ripe for frustration. Elsewhere this is labelled the 'mid-life crisis'.  Any good father of triplets is bound to be submerged by the intense demands and responsibilities of caring for such a brood.  With toddlers that now demand so much of him when will he find time to wallow in the mud like any good ogre wants to do?  What has happened to his Ogre's roar?  It now serves no function except to please those attending his offspring's birthday party.  Shrek says, 'Now I'm just a jolly green joke'.  My, what a demise.  How will Shrek cope with all these changes in his life and how will he surmount the new challenges he and Fiona and their children face? That's what 'The Final Chapter' is all about - without giving anything away, or revealing its more sombre tones involving the blind mice, wolf, gingerbread man, cookie, multiple flying witches and an ogre band of guerrillas led by, well guess who? 

There are a variety of other new characters in Shrek-4, but the most important, straight out of Brothers Grimm is Rumpelstiltskin (the voice of Walt Dohrn). With his 'give a day, get a day' proposition, Rumpelstiltskin tricks Shrek. He is transported back in time into a 'parallel universe' before he had met Donkey and now a very fat Puss-in-Boots and this allows for some astounding events to occur, including the destruction of Far Far Away Land.  Donkey says, 'I've never seen an ogre cry.' The spell can only be broken by true love's kiss; not just any kiss. Rest assured this is not achieved as easily as it sounds.  Shrek is spaced out: 'How am I going to get her to kiss me before sunrise?' Unfortunately Fiona has her own agenda.  Enter the Pied Piper (no voice, only music) and it is time to pay the piper, as he can cause people to dance until they die.  He has the most amazing flute that rotates for different tunes.  Another character that may help save the day is Dragon. 'Who rescued who? You rescued me!'

The soundtrack absorbs songs from old and beloved classics, including the Carpenters such as, Hello; Tomorrow; Top of the World; The Greatest Love of All; You've Got a Friend and others like the Beastie Boys' Sure Shot.

Shrek-4 is one hour and 33 minutes long.  It is in ogre and fairyland tongues with no subtitles.  It is rated PG (because the witches may be scary or that Donkey is a slave). 

The director is Mike Mitchell.  The script is by Josh Klausner and Darren Lemke.  The editor is Nick Fletcher.  The music is by Harry Gregson-Williams.  Thanks is to DreamWorks for recognising it is the Final Chapter. All good things may come to an end.  It is shown in 3D elsewhere in the world, but that form has actually not impressed the critics.sasa_majuma@yahoo.co.uk